Make new friends around the globe - list of travel packages - Directory

Sierra, Nov-Dec, 2001

Hiking the Bavarian Alps: Forests, Lakes, and Culture of Germany. July 10-18. Leaders: Mary O'Boyle and Fred Weber, Price: $2,395 (11-14)/$2,645 (10 or fewer); Dep: $200. [02560A]

Severnaya Zemlya and the Taymyr Peninsula, Russia. July 15-29. Almost as sublimely remote as when it was first discovered in 1913, Severnaya Zemlya offers canyons and pillars of the polar desert and glaciers on its three big islands: Bolshevik, October Revolution, and Komsomolets. Visit walrus colonies, polar bear populations, the little Switzerland of the Akhmatov Gulf, and Cape Chelyuskin. Even for those well-traveled in the polar regions, this is something completely different. Leader: Dennis Schmitt. Price: $5,195 (10-12)/$5,595 (9 or fewer); Dep: $200. [02635A]

From Dublin to Dingle: A Celtic Journey, Ireland. July 20-August 2. Walk through the mountains in two of Ireland's premier scenic areas: the Wicklow Mountains near Dublin, and the Dingle Peninsula and Ring of Kerry in County Kerry. Accompanied by an Irish historian and hiking guide, we visit untouristed Celtic monuments and medieval ruins along the way. We travel by minibus and overnight in traditional Irish B&Bs. Leader: Paul McKown. Price: $2,395; Dep: $200. [02640A]

Yorkshire for Walkers, England. July 21-August 3. Enjoy unspoiled villages, remote hamlets, fells, moors, castles, and abbeys. We'll be joined by knowledgeable local guides, blending environmental concerns with the pleasures of wild Yorkshire under our feet. We'll stay in comfortable B&Bs in two charming market towns with time to stroll bookshops, gardens, and open air markets. We'll also ride on a canal boat and legendary steam train. Day hikes are 8-12 miles with moderate elevation changes. Leader: Kate Froman. Price: $2,145 (10-12)/$2,545 (9 or fewer); Dep: $200. [02645A]

Fire, Ice, and Water: Iceland. July 21-August 4. In Europe's land of the midnight sun, tour black volcanic sands and rhyolite-stained hillsides below snow-covered volcano cones. Cross glacier-fed salmon streams to visit rift gorges, waterfalls, and geothermal sites. Watch for puffins, shorebirds, whales, and other marine animals along wild beaches and deep fjords. Van-supported adventure combines hotel, lodge, and farm accommodations. Leader: Pritpal "Pepi" Kochhar. Price: $2,745 (12-15)/$2,995 (11 or fewer); Dep: $200. [02660A]

Around Norway's Spitzbergen: Aboard the Molchanov. July 31-August 10. Our ship, a converted Russian research vessel, ferries us among these remote Norwegian Arctic islands. We'll go ashore each day to enjoy, at leisure, a variety of optional hikes and unique exploraions. This trip offers something for everyone: ornithologists, botanists, geologists, mountaineers, and adventure travelers alike. Leader: Patrick Colgan. Price: $2, 695 (12-15)/$2,895 (11 or fewer); Dep: $200. [02650A]

Poland: The Forgotten Europe. August 25-September 8. Rugged mountains, dense forests, lakes, and canals present a neopristine backdrop for tranquil old-world villages and post-war reconstructed cities. We'll hike in the mountains, journey to lakes, and experience Warsaw and Krakow. Half-day tours are available to Auschwitz. Travel by foot, train, boat, and even bicycle. We'll hike from hut to hut in the mountains, and explore the lakes by yacht. Leader: Patrick Colgan. Price: $2,395; Dep: $200. [02665A]